THE CEO'S SECRET PROMISE

THE CONTRACT

Chapter Two

Amelia barely slept that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same words from Adrian Blake's contract.

Six years ago.

What had happened six years ago?

And why did Adrian seem to know something her father had spent years hiding?

By seven the next morning, Amelia was already dressed.

She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of her blouse.

"Six months," she whispered to herself.

That was all.

Six months of working for Adrian Blake.

Then she would return to her normal life.

At least, that was what she told herself.

Her phone rang.

It was her father.

"Amelia."

"Good morning, Dad."

"Did you speak to Adrian?"

"Yes."

There was a pause.

"What did he say?"

"He agreed to save the company."

Her father exhaled.

"Thank God."

"But there's a condition."

"What condition?"

"I have to work for him for six months."

Silence.

Amelia frowned.

"Dad?"

"You shouldn't have agreed."

Her stomach tightened.

"Why?"

"I just don't think working for that family is a good idea."

"Why?"

Another silence.

"Dad, what happened six years ago?"

The line went completely quiet.

Amelia's eyes narrowed.

"You know what I'm talking about."

"I don't want you involved in that."

"In what?"

"Please, Amelia. Just trust me."

The call ended.

She stared at her phone.

That was not an answer.

It was confirmation.

Her father knew something.

---

At exactly eight-thirty, Amelia arrived at Blake International.

The receptionist gave her a temporary access card.

"Mr. Blake is expecting you."

"Where should I go?"

"Twenty-third floor."

Amelia entered the elevator.

As the doors closed, she looked at her reflection.

She looked calm.

She didn't feel calm.

When the elevator reached the twenty-third floor, she stepped out.

A woman in a gray suit approached her.

"You must be Amelia."

"Yes."

"I'm Victoria. Mr. Blake's executive assistant."

Victoria smiled politely.

"Your office is next to his."

Amelia stopped.

"Next to his?"

"That's what he requested."

Of course he did.

Victoria handed her a folder.

"Your schedule."

Amelia opened it.

Her first meeting was at nine.

Second meeting at ten.

Financial review at eleven.

Lunch meeting at one.

Then another meeting at three.

She looked up.

"Does he expect me to survive this?"

Victoria laughed.

"You'll get used to him."

"I doubt that."

Victoria smiled.

"Most people do."

Before Amelia could respond, the office door opened.

Adrian stepped out.

His eyes immediately settled on her.

"You're late."

Amelia glanced at the clock.

"Eight thirty-one."

"Your contract begins at eight thirty."

She raised an eyebrow.

"So you're counting one minute?"

"I count everything."

Victoria quietly walked away.

Amelia followed Adrian into his office.

He handed her a folder.

"These are the Carter Holdings accounts."

"I've already studied them."

"Not these."

She opened the folder.

Her expression changed.

These documents contained transactions she had never seen before.

"Where did you get these?"

"From your company's internal records."

"My father never showed me these."

"I know."

Amelia looked at him.

"You knew?"

Adrian walked toward the window.

"Your father has been hiding certain transactions."

"Why?"

"That's what we're going to find out."

Amelia closed the folder.

"I thought I was here to work."

"You are."

"Then what exactly do you want me to do?"

"Find out where the missing money went."

She stared at him.

"How much?"

"Almost twelve million."

Her mouth fell slightly open.

"Twelve million?"

Adrian nodded.

"And I want the answer before the end of the month."

Amelia picked up the folder again.

"Why are you helping my family?"

Adrian didn't answer.

"You're avoiding the question."

"I have my reasons."

"Are they connected to six years ago?"

His jaw tightened.

"Focus on your work."

Amelia stepped closer.

"You can't keep saying that."

"I can."

"And you can't expect me to work for you while hiding things from me."

Adrian turned toward her.

"Then don't."

The room became silent.

Amelia stared at him.

He wasn't threatening her.

He was giving her a choice.

And somehow, that made the situation even more complicated.

She turned back to the folder.

"I'm staying."

"Good."

"But I'm going to find out the truth."

Adrian's expression remained unreadable.

"I expected you to."

---

By lunchtime, Amelia had discovered three suspicious transactions.

All three had been made six years ago.

All three had been transferred to companies that no longer existed.

She stared at the screen.

There was something else.

Each transaction had been approved by the same person.

Daniel Carter.

Her father's name.

Amelia's hands went cold.

"No..."

She checked the documents again.

The signature was unmistakable.

Her father's.

She immediately picked up her phone.

She needed answers.

But before she could call him, Adrian appeared at her office door.

"You found something."

It wasn't a question.

Amelia turned the screen toward him.

"My father approved these payments."

Adrian looked at the documents.

He didn't seem surprised.

"You knew."

"I suspected."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I wanted you to discover it yourself."

Amelia stood.

"You've been investigating my family."

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"Six years."

She stared at him.

"Why?"

Adrian's eyes met hers.

"Because six years ago, your father made a decision that changed both our families."

Amelia swallowed.

"What decision?"

Adrian's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

His expression immediately hardened.

He answered.

"Speak."

A voice came through the phone.

Amelia couldn't hear everything, but she heard one sentence clearly.

"The file is gone."

Adrian's face changed.

"Who took it?"

"We don't know."

Adrian ended the call.

Amelia stared at him.

"What file?"

He didn't answer.

"What file, Adrian?"

He looked at her.

"The one that could explain everything."

Before Amelia could ask another question, her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

She opened the message.

There was only one sentence.

Stop digging into the past, Amelia. You have no idea what you're about to uncover.

Her heart raced.

She showed Adrian the message.

He read it.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then Adrian took out his phone.

"You're not going home alone tonight."

Amelia frowned.

"Excuse me?"

"Someone knows you're investigating."

"I can take care of myself."

"This isn't a discussion."

She folded her arms.

"You don't get to order me around."

Adrian looked directly at her.

"You're right."

His voice softened.

"But I'm still asking you to be careful."

Amelia looked at the message again.

For the first time since signing the contract, she wondered whether she had made a terrible mistake.

Six years ago, her family had hidden something.

Now someone was desperate to make sure she never discovered it.

And Adrian Blake seemed to be the only person who already knew where the secrets were buried.